We are delighted to announce that the Greek Government has banned the use
of all animals in circuses following a campaign by ADI and the Greek Animal
Welfare Fund (GAWF), backed by over 50 local animal protection groups across
Greece. The new animal protection law also addresses a number of important
issues concerning stray animals.

Tim Phillips of ADI, who launched the Stop Circus Suffering campaign in
Greece in 2006 said: �In circuses in Greece we saw horrific suffering. I
remember a hippo living in a small, filthy cage on the back of a lorry with
a stinking pool barely bigger than a bath tub to wallow in. This is a great
day for animal protection in Greece and indeed Europe. We applaud the Greek
Government for taking a strong, unequivocal stand against animal suffering
in circuses.�

Evgenia Mataragka of the GAWF, based in Athens said: �We are
delighted that Greece has said no to cruelty in the name of entertainment.
We have witnessed terrible suffering of animals in traveling circuses here
and these animals often have to endure long journeys by sea from Italy. Many
municipalities have already banned animal circuses in Greece, so we believe
that this will be a popular with Greek people.�

Greece is the first country in Europe to ban all animals from circuses
and similar performances. Austria currently has a ban on wild animal acts,
and several European countries including Portugal, Denmark and Croatia have
measures to ban or phase out wild animals in circuses.

Bolivia was the first country to ban all animals from circuses and, in
February 2011, ADI completed an enforcement operation with the Bolivian
authorities closing down and rescuing every animal from circuses defying the
law. This included relocating 29 lions to the USA as well as rescuing
primates and horses.Read more
about Operation Lion Ark

ADI and GAWF have said they are committed to assisting the Greek
Government with enforcing the ban.

In July 2011, Peru banned wild animals in circuses following an
undercover investigation and campaign by ADI. It is clear now that the days
are numbered for keeping animals in travelling facilities and forcing them
to do tricks in the name of entertainment. Legislation is currently being
considered by the Governments of the USA, Brazil, Colombia, Chile and
Ecuador.Read more
about our Peru campaign

The UK will now be under considerable pressure to implement a ban on the
use of wild animals in circuses, which was called for by an overwhelming
vote by back bench MPs last year. The British Government had cited a legal
challenge to Austria�s ban on wild animal acts as a reason for not
implementing a UK ban. However, in December the Austrian Constitutional
Court in Vienna announced that it had thrown out the application by Circus
Krone to overturn Austria�s ban.